JeepDiver 0 #1 October 6, 2005 Python bites off a little too much of this gator ... in the Everglades By DENISE KALETTE Associated Press October 5, 2005, 2:41 PM EDT MIAMI -- Alligators have clashed with non-native pythons before in Everglades National Park. But when a 6-foot gator tangled with a 13-foot python recently, the result wasn't pretty. The snake apparently tried to swallow the gator whole -- and then exploded. Scientists stumbled upon the gory remains last week. The species have battled with increasing frequency -- scientists have documented four encounters in the last three years. The encroachment of Burmese pythons into the Everglades could threaten an $8 billion restoration project and endanger smaller species, said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor. The gators have had to share their territory with a python population that has swelled over the past 20 years after owners dropped off pythons they no longer wanted in the Everglades. The Asian snakes have thrived in the wet, hot climate. ``Encounters like that are almost never seen in the wild. ... And we here are, it's happened for the fourth time,'' Mazzotti said. In the other cases, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw. ``They were probably evenly matched in size,'' Mazzotti said of the latest battle. ``If the python got a good grip on the alligator before the alligator got a good grip on him, he could win.'' While the gator may have been injured before the battle began -- wounds were found on it that apparently were not caused by python bites -- Mazzotti believes it was alive when the battle began. And it may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it, leading to the blow up. The python was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Its stomach still surrounded the alligator's head, shoulders, and forelimbs. The remains were discovered and photographed Sept. 26 by helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher Michael Barron. The incident has alerted biologists to new potential dangers from Burmese pythons in the Everglades. ``Clearly, if they can kill an alligator they can kill other species,'' Mazzotti said. ``There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons. ... This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win. ``It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top down predator,'' Mazzotti said. Not only can the python kill other reptiles, the snakes will also eat otters, squirrels, endangered woodstorks and sparrows. While there are thousands of alligators in the Everglades, Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist and crocodile tracker, said its unknown how many pythons there are. ``We need to set traps and do a proper survey,'' of the snakes, he said. At least 150 have been captured in the last two years. The problem arises when people buy pets they are not prepared to care for. ``People will buy these tiny little snakes and if you do everything right, they're six-feet tall in one year. They lose their appeal, or the owner becomes afraid of it. There's no zoo or attraction that will take it,'' so they release the snakes into the Everglades. A reproducing snake can have as many as 100 hatchlings, which explains why the snake population has soared, Wasilewski said. The Burmese snake problem is just part of a larger issue of nonnative animal populations in South Florida, he said. So many iguanas have been discarded in the region that they are gobbling tropical flowers and causing problems for botanists, Wasilewski said. A 10- or 20-foot python is also large enough to pose a risk to an unwary human, especially a small child, he added. ``I don't think this is an imminent threat. This is not a 'Be afraid, be very afraid situation.''' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #2 October 6, 2005 three strikes your out.I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #3 October 6, 2005 I duhhno about that pic. When you zoom in it looks really photoshopped. Still, I don't doubt it could happen. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #4 October 6, 2005 Nope its real, i and someone posted it yesterdaySudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dan_iv 0 #5 October 6, 2005 if it's a fake then a ton of media have been totally duped as it's been all over the radio and other media outlets today... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #6 October 6, 2005 Where's EvilIvin when you need him? Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #7 October 6, 2005 Quoteif it's a fake then a ton of media have been totally duped as it's been all over the radio and other media outlets today... Still, if you open it in photoshop or another program that lets you zoom in, it looks really really really altered. I can't find this story online anywhere. I'm poo pooing it. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ASteele 0 #8 October 6, 2005 http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/05/gater.python.ap/?section=cnn_us My new desktop at work Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #9 October 6, 2005 QuoteI can't find this story online anywhere. Yahoo And yes, snakes eat gators, and gators eat snakes. They're reptiles - anything goes.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #10 October 6, 2005 Ok so it's online EVERYWHERE. I think all the news guys were duped! lol I'm going to send them this picture and tell them we're being invaded. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #11 October 6, 2005 OMFG Girlfalldown has 3 boobs... It's true, I saw it on the internet...scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ASteele 0 #12 October 6, 2005 Does Bob know? BTW I'm afraid to open that picture at work.... so tempted.....must resist. I'll just ask to see it in person this weekend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #13 October 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteI can't find this story online anywhere. Yahoo And yes, snakes eat gators, and gators eat snakes. They're reptiles - anything goes. I didn't doubt it could happen. I still think the picture looks photoshopped but apparently they have the people at Snopes duped too! SNOPES -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #14 October 6, 2005 QuoteDoes Bob know? BTW I'm afraid to open that picture at work.... so tempted.....must resist. I'll just ask to see it in person this weekend Of course he knows. Why else would he have proposed? -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #15 October 6, 2005 QuoteNope its real, i and someone posted it yesterday That was me! GFD, your google skill are teh suck. I got ALL the sources for ya: http://news.google.com/news?q=python%20alligator&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&tab=wn Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #16 October 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteNope its real, i and someone posted it yesterday That was me! GFD, your google skill are teh suck. I got ALL the sources for ya: http://news.google.com/news?q=python%20alligator&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&tab=wn Dude we've already come to that conclusion many posts ago. Keep up! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #17 October 6, 2005 QuotePeople will buy these tiny little snakes and if you do everything right, they're six-feet tall in one year. ...six-feet long maybe. "Yeah. 6 ft tall. It just walked past..." There are more than a few battles like this going on. Those snakes are multiplying like crazy. There is a guy down there with a beagle who has caught or killed over 60. His big problem is keeping his beagle from become a snake-snack. I've seen a few gators over 10 ft. (Even the little ones can hurt you.) The snakes are giving them some competition. A recently-fed gator can still fight, not so a heavily-laden python. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HydroGuy 0 #18 October 6, 2005 Just release the non-native mongoose in the everglades...Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #19 October 6, 2005 QuoteJust release the non-native mongoose in the everglades... Right now, we're looking for a non-native species that eats mosquitos and pees gasoline. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #20 October 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteNope its real, i and someone posted it yesterday That was me! GFD, your google skill are teh suck. I got ALL the sources for ya: http://news.google.com/news?q=python%20alligator&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&tab=wn Dude we've already come to that conclusion many posts ago. Keep up! I know. That is why I capitalized ALL...so you could see all of your suck in one basket. Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #21 October 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteNope its real, i and someone posted it yesterday That was me! GFD, your google skill are teh suck. I got ALL the sources for ya: http://news.google.com/news?q=python%20alligator&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N&tab=wn Dude we've already come to that conclusion many posts ago. Keep up! I know. That is why I capitalized ALL...so you could see all of your suck in one basket. That's it. You're tarpitted. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linestretch 0 #22 October 7, 2005 click on that CNN link above and then hit the link for the video (down the article a few lines), there are other pics from different angles. I was thinking it was fake too, but not now.my pics & stuff! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #23 October 7, 2005 okay greenieSudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeepDiver 0 #24 October 7, 2005 I've lived in South Florida for a little more than 15 years. I remember several years ago on the evening news that dogs and cats kept disappearing from a neighborhood at night. A large snake was seen going under a house one evening. Nobody had any idea of it's size. From the reports it was huge but the story wasn't believable.... it was just to big. Animal control officers came out and it was discovered that the snake was close to 20 feet in length and had taken up residence under someones home. This snake had made a trench as large as a basketball dragged through the muddy soil and had been living under the home for a very long time. There are monsters!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #25 October 7, 2005 Quote That's it. You're tarpitted. Only if I get feathered too.Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
